According to air quality monitoring data, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is ranked as the ninth most HAZE pollution burdened park in the United States. Haze pollution comes from coal plants, industrial facilities, vehicles, and other sources and is made up of the same pollutants that harm people’s health. The North Carolina Division of Air Quality, the state’s air quality regulator, is currently updating its plan that is supposed to make reasonable progress toward improving air quality and visibility in Class 1 areas (like Joyce-Kilmer-Slickrock and Linville Gorge Wilderness Areas and Great Smoky Mountains National park). But despite clear authority to fully review all the pollution-causing haze and all polluting sources in the state, DAQ has chosen to ignore nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and over 26 haze-polluting facilities, including major coal plants.

On September 30, CleanAIRE NC, The National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and Environment North Carolina are co-hosting a webinar to discuss the state’s inadequate haze plan. A panel of experts will discuss where the state’s proposal falls short and offer concerned citizens and outdoor enthusiasts ways to advocate for a stronger State Implementation Plan that addresses haze pollution and makes our parks and communities healthier, cleaner places to explore and play.

If you are interested in joining this important webinar, take a moment to register by going here: https://cleanairenc.salsalabs.org/NCHazeWebinar/index.html